Chereads / "Lupine" / Chapter 2 - Jay: Safe and Sound

Chapter 2 - Jay: Safe and Sound

Attraction may not be the word that I was going for, nor love at first sight, but it seems to be that way.

That I am - sort of, attracted to this girl...

But how was that even possible?

This kind of interest is way too fast and too forward to be called that way; it was an instant connection.

Though, before I could contemplate it further, I instantly snapped out of the quick daze as my now alert and conscious mind decided to get going, discovering the street was free of FREAKs.

Even with the knowledge of how serious my injury was, I still attempted to stand.

Of course, as obvious as it may have been, I fell again and from there, I concluded that my chance to escape this hell on earth totally ran out today.

I let out another deep sigh.

Nonetheless, with everything happening, my heart was at peace knowing the 'package' is currently safe with Malcolm and Dave, my teammates.

And that's what is important for me...

I've done my part, so the rest will be in the boys' hands now - which means, this injury from the bomb explosion, is nothing but a small scar that I will carry on to the future.

However, will I make it?

Recognizing how severe the injury was and knowing there are too many FREAKs lurking around, aside from this area, I guess I have to make the call.

My final call for duty.

So this is it then...

As I was about to reach for my radio to tell the boys to proceed without me - since I know they are patiently waiting for me to get to the assigned access point - when unexpectedly, SHE went to my side to pick me up.

And for the first time in forever, I saw the so-called 'Miracle' up close...

Is it just me then or is this girl an angel that came from the heavens?

Aside from the black hair and eyes, she also has these small rosy lips, a cute button nose, and pretty long lashes that simply added to her already innocent beauty.

She generally has the face of an innocent child; emotionless but pure.

Then there's her skin which, as I thought it would be, was white like the snow. Though, what I did not expect there - as she guides my arm around her neck, was that it was smooth and soft - like cotton - when touched.

Shortly after the contact, I felt the sudden shock of electric current moving inside my arm as it rested on her neck.

Okay, another weird thing here...

Yet, as strange as it gets, it felt good to the point that I felt no pain in my legs as we started to walk.

Wait, is this some kind of magic now?

Anyhow, with this much closeness, I instantly notice how slim she was and for a tough woman like her, it should be rough and broader.

Right?

Don't judge me but I did believe that when you're this strong, your body should have the same impression as your strength; like having big muscles, defined abs, and a toned-down body.

However, with her, she was slender but, surprisingly, powerful as she supported my whole weight when she helped me stand up, and is currently holding me as we are running.

Such a surprise...

As we dash through the corners of these narrowed streets, I couldn't help but wonder back at how this female could assist me like this.

I'm a 195-pound man and just like that, she could lift me from the ground with one swift move, and drag me like I'm just nothing; this is something significantly unexpected for me.

Seriously speaking, this is not normal for a lady.

Therefore, once again, and out of my curiosity, I made myself indulge in her very presence...

With every detail that I could observe just to get a proper description of her, the one that really baffles me was her eyes; the midnight colored black ones.

All my life, I've never seen eyes so dark before.

Obviously, there are unique colored eyes such as amber, green, and red that are available in the world, but pure black colored pupils?

It's just so different...

I couldn't help myself and kept on studying her with my stare when I felt her getting uneasy.

At first, I thought she would say something about it. Though shockingly, she just looks at you for a second with those black-colored eyes, and then nothing.

Silence.

That's all it was after, and even as we run...

Eventually, I don't know if it's really the color of her eyes that mesmerize me or the way she looks at me - cold but innocent. But, one thing's for sure, she's a beauty worth the attention that I almost felt breathless.

No, that's not right.

Breathless now in the sense that I was starting to get dizzy and weak; I must have lost too much blood.

Hence, before I knew what was happening or know where we are going, I was already being steadied by Malcolm and Dave.

Afterward, we got inside something hard but smooth under the sole of the shoes, something air-conditioned as cold air touches my sweaty face and body, giving me chills inside.

Now, hold on a second!

My first impression regarding this, something that hard, smooth, and air-conditioned was actually the elevator.

My suspicion was confirmed when I caught a glimpse of the silvery grey door and the walls around us.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

I made it...

Soon after, and being attentive now, I felt myself being laid down on a corner - I don't know which corner but I could see a little that I was away from the door.

Finally.

I instantly decided to snooze out; wanting to rest my tired eyes but when I heard people talking, I felt alive once more.

It was just small whispers but my mind became more alert, and more focused when I heard children laughing.

As my eyes opened and adjusted to the blinding white lights, I saw the package; the people that I saved from the undead, were inside the elevator at last.

All of the people I accumulated these past two days were there – all fifteen of them...

Dave, a small guy but bulkier in structure, noticed my awakening.

He stared at me with a huge smile on his face while his hands were doing something on my left leg.

I glanced down and saw he was patching it up with a needle, some antiseptic, and nylon-like thread; He is the first aider indeed.

"Great job man, we did it," Dave says while his hands are still at work.

Out of the blue, Malcolm appeared, having the same smile as Dave.

Unlike Dave, Malcolm was taller and much bulkier in size; his body reminds me of a WWE wrestler rather than a normal wrestler in UFC.

Yeah, that big...

Anyway, seeing that I was aware - and alive, the black-headed guy quickly sat beside me while placing his gun on his lap.

"Complete package man, we deserve a drink after this," Malcolm says, patting my back.

I just smiled and looked at everybody.

They all looked so relieved and as we hear the elevator door closing, I felt everybody's tension released.

My own did the same.

Finishing the mission was one, but fulfilling a promise was definitely the success I was looking forward to.

You see, existence was near for all humanity since Z-day broke out, so having this kind of accomplishment urges me to do more...

To save more humans and protect them from the undead at all costs.

All of that, since day one, became the only motivation we carry as we fight for our survival. And I do believe that there are still survivors out there - survivors that are trying to live day by day and some waiting for rescue.

So I vow that with this new system, new technology, and new world, we will surely come for them.

'A promise is a promise; never do break it,' we soldiers always say.

Nonetheless, it was amusing to know that we always promise something so impossible yet we still achieve it.

Regardless of its probability, that's how it is... that's how important a promise is to us.

Suddenly, as I looked at the people one by one, counting and remembering their faces while being patched up by Dave and Malcolm resting by my side, I just can't help but notice one face was missing.

"Where is she?" I blurted out.

Dave and Malcolm shot me a look and then at each other, both are confused.

I ignored them and scanned the room again, re-counting heads.

Fifteen... Only?

..... But if she was here,

Then it should be... sixteen.

"Fuck!"